Midwest Region
Tina Wilson, PTA – Sevierville, TN
“I firmly believe that if Tina had not been assigned to be Warren’s therapist he would not be where he is today. I believe he would have given up...” – Letter from patient’s family
What should have been the happiest time in Tina’s life turned into tragedy when her fiancé and father of her two-month-old was killed in a motorcycle accident. Her strength and spirit through disaster has made her an inspiration to her coworkers and her patients. No matter what’s going on in her life, she uses creativity and a positive outlook to help her patients recover at home. Patients consistently ask for her by name and enjoy her fresh and upbeat approach to recovery.
Northeast Region
James Hines, LPTA – Hampton, VA
“I am convinced that nobody cares more about our clients, his patients, his family, and his community than Jay Hines.” – Nomination from coworker
No one knows where Jay Hines gets his energy. With nine children between 14 and eight months old and a volunteer schedule that made him Volunteer of the Year in his community a few years ago, he still comes to work with a burning desire to help others. He has the innate ability to understand the needs of others and goes out of his way to provide the best care possible. Coworkers, patients, community members, and his family can’t stop raving about Jay and the passion for others he displays every day.
Southeast Region
Judy Bearden, RN – Trenton, GA
“She is not afraid to take on any challenge necessary in order to meet the needs of the agency and her patients.” – Nomination from coworker
Judy Bearden never backs down from a challenge. When winter weather made a patient’s driveway unusable, she called the County Road Commissioner and got it fixed. Another patient needed a chair lift but couldn’t afford it, so Judy talked to suppliers and found one willing to provide a lift at a steep discount. When a patient didn’t have an indoor bathroom, she helped apply for grants to get one. Then, when the grant paperwork stalled, she called the Manager of Rural Development and got it going again. And finally, once the grant was approved, she worked with contractors to make sure the best materials were used in the construction. No matter the task, Judy goes above and beyond to get what’s best for her patients.
West Region
Diane McKivitz, LPN – Surprise , AZ
“She is a true professional and is a perfect example of how it is not the challenges in life that make or break us; it is how we respond to those challenges.” – Nomination from coworker
As a nurse and a single parent to a 16-year-old and a 3-year-old, Diane McKivitz has very little free time. Add caring for her elderly mother to her responsibilities and you start to understand the kind of person Diane is. A true caregiver at heart, her family and her patients always come first. Whether she’s checking on patients as she brings her son to the ER or calling them at night to make sure they’re following their plans of care, service is a passion for her.